The cardiovascular impact of cocaine use in otherwise healthy individuals who consider themselves 'social' users is not well established. Twenty regular cocaine users and 20 control subjects were recruited by word-of-mouth. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed to assess cardiac and vascular structure and function. Cocaine users had higher systolic blood ...

The objective of this study was to validate the novel integration of oscillometric (Vasotens(®)) technology into a BPLab(®) ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring system to measure central BP, the aortic augmentation index, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) compared with the recommended and widely accepted tonometric method. The ARTERY Society guidelines ...

Ascending aortic constriction is the most common and successful surgical model for creating pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Here, we describe a detailed surgical procedure for creating pressure overload and cardiac hypertrophy in rats by constriction of the ascending aorta using a small metallic clip. After anesthesia, ...

This paper presents a comparative study on the relative performance of alternative strategies for estimating an individualized central aortic blood pressure (BP) waveform. Based on the transmission line representation of the central aortic-radial arterial line, a fully individualized (ITF 1), two partially individualized (ITF 2 and ITF 3 ), and ...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) on aortic stiffness and endothelial dysfunction by using an integrated MRI approach. A total of 31 non-hypertensive DM2 patients and 31 hypertensive DM2 patients underwent 3.0-T MRI. Aortic distensibility (AD), pulse ...

The impact of paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PAR) on hemodynamic performance after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains disputable. Common parameters such as the diastolic blood pressure or the blood pressure amplitude do not provide reproducible results. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of PAR on hemodynamics ...

The SphygmoCor is used for noninvasive assessment of ascending aortic blood pressure (BP). However, the validity of the SphygmoCor transfer function has not been tested in an exclusively type 2 diabetic patient sample. Calibration with systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) brachial BP has previously been associated with substantial imprecision of ...

Hemodialfiltration (HDF) has been reported to reduce the frequency of intradialytic hypotension compared with hemodialysis (HD). We wished to determine whether HDF resulted in improvement of arterial stiffness compared with HD. We reviewed peripheral blood pressure and pulse wave velocity measurements in a cross-sectional analysis of stable HDF and HD ...

We describe a 15-day-old newborn girl who was fed with formula milk that was accidentally diluted with sake (Japanese wine prepared from fermented rice). The clinical features were flushed skin, tachycardia and low blood pressure indicating circulatory failure, somnolence and metabolic acidosis without hypoglycemia. The serum ethanol concentration was 43.0 mg/dL ...

An 8.25-year-old boy was incidentally found to have systemic hypertension of the upper extremities. Blood pressures of the upper extremities were 142-150/86-98 mmHg, and those of the lower extremities 110-116/60-66 mmHg. Doppler echocardiography showed in-stent restenosis of the aortic coarctation. Traditional high-pressure balloon angioplasty failed to dilate this inveterate in-stent ...

We present a passive, miniature check valve which can be manufactured using standard techniques ideal for low-cost, disposable systems used in medical devices and other applications. The body of the valve consists of a hollow cylindrical core, closed at one end, with a side port and a cylindrical elastomeric sleeve ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the echocardiographic, biochemical short- and mid-term effects of the stenting procedure on left ventricular function, aortic stiffness, elasticity and systemic hypertension in children with coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Fifteen patients with native or recurrent CoA and 30 healthy controls who were ...

To investigate whether NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), contributes to the emergence of arterial hypertension in a murine model of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for arterial hypertension and it is linked to oxidative stress. C57BL/6J mice were ...

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the most important index of arterial stiffness. It is conventionally estimated by noninvasively measuring central and peripheral blood pressure (BP) and/or velocity (BV) waveforms and then detecting the foot-tofoot time delay between the waveforms wherein wave reflection is presumed absent. We developed techniques for improved ...

To describe the assessment of the spatiotemporal distribution of relative aortic pressure quantifying the magnitude of its three major components. Nine healthy volunteers and three patients with aortic disease (bicuspid aortic valve, dissection, and Marfan syndrome) underwent 4D-flow CMR. Spatiotemporal pressure maps were computed from the CMR flow fields solving ...

Elevated central pressures and arterial stiffness are associated with increased peripheral resistance and higher sympathetic nervous system activity. Additionally, consumption of a meal is known to be sympathoexcitatory. However, the acute effects of a meal on aortic wave reflection and stiffness are unknown. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that aortic ...

The relationship between cardiovascular diseases and the diurnal blood pressure (BP) rhythm was researched in many studies. It has been demonstrated that the nondipping pattern has been associated with target organ damage and worsened cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between aortic elasticity parameters ...

Central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) is a more accurate measure of load and cardiovascular risk than brachial pressure. Unfortunately, CASP is difficult to measure using current methods. In this study we report three methods of determining CASP by combining MR-derived aortic area curves with different models of the pressure-area relationship. ...

To use a simplified hemodynamic model and Fourier-encoded velocity data to measure pulse pressure (PP) in the descending aorta. A one-dimensional, cylindrically localized pulse sequence with Fourier velocity encoding (FVE) was used to obtain time-dependent velocity distributions along the descending aorta. Numerical evaluation of a simplified hemodynamic model, based on ...

One strategy for actuating soft machines (e.g., tentacles, grippers, and simple walkers) uses pneumatic inflation of networks of small channels in an elastomeric material. Although the management of a few pneumatic inputs and valves to control pressurized gas is straightforward, the fabrication and operation of manifolds containing many (>50) independent ...

To assess carotid and aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) in term growth restricted newborns with and without prenatal signs of severity. This was a prospective study comprising 67 cases diagnosed prenatally and 134 normally grown newborns. Cases were sub-classified into small-for-gestational age (SGA) with no signs of severity and those with ...

The high velocity steam flow in the high pressure reducing valve can cause loud noise, which is harmful to the operators and the relevant devices. The orifice plate is used to reduce the noise in the pressure reducing valve. The main objective is to study the relationship between the orifice ...

A case of mild to moderate aortic regurgitation with presystolic closure of mitral valve and presystolic mitral regurgitation is reported. This echocardiographic finding is a reliable marker of significantly increased LV end-diastolic pressure.

Background: Hypertension is a known risk factor for aortic stenosis. The elevated blood pressure increases the transvalvular load and can elicit inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Elevated cyclic pressure and the vasoactive agent angiotensin II (Ang II) both promote collagen synthesis, an early hallmark of aortic sclerosis. In the ...

Clinical trials have shown that amlodipine reduces cardiovascular events at a rate that is not predicted by changes in brachial arterial pressure alone. These findings may be explained, in part, by the pleiotropic effects of amlodipine on endothelial cell (EC) function. In this study, we elucidated the effect of amlodipine ...

Mitral regurgitation is frequently classified as mild, moderate or severe based on echocardiography. Patients with mild mitral regurgitation are usually managed medically. We hypothesise that mild mitral regurgitation as assessed volumetrically can in fact be severe when analysed from a bioenergetics point of view. The conservation of energy predicts that ...

Any disruption of the lymphatic system due to trauma or injury can lead to edema. There is no effective cure for lymphedema, partly because predictive knowledge of lymphatic system reactions to interventions is lacking. A well-developed model of the system could greatly improve our understanding of its function. Lymphangions, defined ...

The vasodilating beta-blocker nebivolol is thought to be superior in lowering wave reflection and central blood pressure (BP) compared to nonvasodilating beta-blockers. The results from studies comparing nebivolol with either metoprolol or atenolol, with or without hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), are not unequivocal. We examined the effects of nebivolol 5 mg and metoprolol ...

A number of conditions have been associated with functional changes of large arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with aortic stiffness in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The authors studied 86 patients with PAD (ankle-brachial pressure index [ABPI] ≤0.9) and 86 controls. Aortic ...

We report on two cases that illustrate an important caveat in the measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in coronary arteries. To obtain accurate FFR measurements, two fundamental requirements must be fulfilled. One is to minimize microvascular resistance; the other is that there is no damping of the proximal aortic ...

On/off solenoid valves with PWM control are widely used in all types of vehicle electro-hydraulic control systems respecting to their desirable properties of reliable, low cost and fast acting. However, it can hardly achieve a linear hydraulic modulation by using on/off valves mainly due to the nonlinear behaviors of valve ...

Introduction. The main objective was to compare the mean change in augmentation index of hypertensive patients treated with nebivolol or atenolol. Methods. Multicenter, double-blind randomized study conducted in six Spanish centers. We enrolled outpatients between the ages of 40 and 65 years with mild or moderate essential hypertension (systolic blood ...

Arm cuff blood pressure (BP) may overestimate cardiovascular risk. Central aortic BP predicts mortality and could be a better method for patient management. We sought to determine the usefulness of central BP to guide hypertension management. This was a prospective, open-label, blinded-end point study in 286 patients with hypertension randomized ...

Acute aortic syndromes are among the most lethal of the cardiovascular diseases. Delays in recognition, diagnosis, and treatment are associated with increases in mortality. Signs and symptoms are sometimes subtle and atypical, and a high index of suspicion is useful to guide the diagnostic evaluation. Uncontrolled hypertension remains the most ...

Background: A small proximal aortic diameter (AoD) is thought to be associated with a higher characteristic impedance of the proximal aorta. However, there has been no evidence of a relationship between directly evaluated AoD and directly measured central aortic pressure or the outcome of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Methods and ...

-Presence of syncope in aortic valve stenosis (AS) predicts a grave prognosis. However, the evaluation of AS severity has been limited to valve-specific factors such as aortic valve area and mean transaortic pressure gradient. Recently, valvuloarterial impedance (Zva) was proposed for estimation of the global left ventricular afterload. Therefore, because ...